Throat Problems
Throat problems can be cause by a number of conditions.
This can present as pain, difficulty in swallowing, sensation of lump in the throat, changes in voice, bad breath etc. The commonest cause is infection but rarely it might be due to a tumour. Our ENT specialist has years of experience in managing patients with throat problems
The throat is a very complex part of the airway, voice and the digestive track. It is where the windpipe, the voice-box and the food pathway share a common junction. This is why a throat problem can affect your swallowing , breathing and voice at the same time.
Anatomy of throat .
There are a considerable number of conditions that can affect your throat but thankfully most of them are benign and easily treated. The commonest throat conditions are due to either infection which may cause tonsillitis, laryngitis or pharyngitis. Another very common condition is call laryngopharyngeal reflux. Patients who suffer from laryngopharyngeal reflux might not necessarily experience heart-burn. The usual symptoms of laryngeal reflux are sensation of lump in the throat, sore throat, throat clearing, dry cough, husky or croaky voice. Thanks to the advancement in technology, the entire throat can be thoroughly examined with a small fibre optic endoscope about 3mm in diameter as an outpatient procedure and this examination can be completed in only a few minutes. Usually it is not a painful examination and a local anaesthetic nasal spray might be use.
Laryngopharyngeal reflux- LPR.
This is a condition where the stomach contents reflux back into the throat (larynx and pharynx) causing some symptoms. This is often due to the weakness in either the upper or lower oesophageal sphincter. Any age group can be affected. It is commonest in people who are overweight and singers but may occur even in anyone.
Causes:
Symptoms:
Diagnosis:
The diagnosis is made by history taking and fibre optic endoscopy of the larynx
Treatment:
Dietary advice,
Laryngeal cancer.
Cancer of the larynx are rare. It most commonly occur in people that smoke
Symptoms.
Hoarseness
In advance cases there might be throat pain and swallowing difficulty. There might be neck lump but this is rare.
Diagnosis This is done by fiberoptic endoscopic examination of the larynx in the clinic followed by microlaryngoscopy and biopsy in the operating room usually under a general anaesthesia.
Treatment Radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy depending on the extent of the cancer
Surgery
Ranges from laser excision of the cancer to total laryngectomy which is removing the whole voice box with the cancer in it. This is only indicated in advance cancer.
Other throat cancers
This can present as pain, difficulty in swallowing, sensation of lump in the throat, changes in voice, bad breath etc. The commonest cause is infection but rarely it might be due to a tumour. Our ENT specialist has years of experience in managing patients with throat problems
The throat is a very complex part of the airway, voice and the digestive track. It is where the windpipe, the voice-box and the food pathway share a common junction. This is why a throat problem can affect your swallowing , breathing and voice at the same time.
Anatomy of throat .
There are a considerable number of conditions that can affect your throat but thankfully most of them are benign and easily treated. The commonest throat conditions are due to either infection which may cause tonsillitis, laryngitis or pharyngitis. Another very common condition is call laryngopharyngeal reflux. Patients who suffer from laryngopharyngeal reflux might not necessarily experience heart-burn. The usual symptoms of laryngeal reflux are sensation of lump in the throat, sore throat, throat clearing, dry cough, husky or croaky voice. Thanks to the advancement in technology, the entire throat can be thoroughly examined with a small fibre optic endoscope about 3mm in diameter as an outpatient procedure and this examination can be completed in only a few minutes. Usually it is not a painful examination and a local anaesthetic nasal spray might be use.
Laryngopharyngeal reflux- LPR.
This is a condition where the stomach contents reflux back into the throat (larynx and pharynx) causing some symptoms. This is often due to the weakness in either the upper or lower oesophageal sphincter. Any age group can be affected. It is commonest in people who are overweight and singers but may occur even in anyone.
Causes:
- Hiatus hernia
- Overweight
- Diet rich in acid
- infection
Symptoms:
- Throat clearing
- Dry cough, throat irritation or ticklish
- Coughing or choking at night
- Hoarseness
- Sensation of lump in the throat
- Sore throat
- Weakness or tiring of the voice
- Some people may experience heartburn although this is not always the case
Diagnosis:
The diagnosis is made by history taking and fibre optic endoscopy of the larynx
Treatment:
Dietary advice,
- Reduce greasy foods, caffeine, fizzy drinks, acidic food, white wine, alcohol intake, dairy foods, etc
- Medical treatment
- Antireflux medication. These are medication that suppresses stomach acid and prevent acid refluxing back up into the larynx
- Surgery
- Vocal cord granuloma due to reflux might require surgical removal
- In cases due to large hiatus hernia a surgery call fundoplication might be required.
Laryngeal cancer.
Cancer of the larynx are rare. It most commonly occur in people that smoke
Symptoms.
Hoarseness
In advance cases there might be throat pain and swallowing difficulty. There might be neck lump but this is rare.
Diagnosis This is done by fiberoptic endoscopic examination of the larynx in the clinic followed by microlaryngoscopy and biopsy in the operating room usually under a general anaesthesia.
Treatment Radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy depending on the extent of the cancer
Surgery
Ranges from laser excision of the cancer to total laryngectomy which is removing the whole voice box with the cancer in it. This is only indicated in advance cancer.
Other throat cancers
- Tonsil cancer
- Tongue cancer
- Pharyngeal cancer